20 Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
From active boiling springs to pristine alpine lakes to the breathtaking 34.0-mile (54.7 km) scenic byway that cuts through the heart of it all, Lassen Volcanic National Park truly has so much to offer, with Lassen Peak—the southernmost Cascade summit and the largest plug dome volcano in the world—towering above it all!
It is for all these reasons that Lassen Volcanic National Park feels like such a hidden gem among a number of other, much more popular California National Parks, like Yosemite, Sequoia, and even the nearby Redwoods.
For this reason, Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of my favorite California National Parks, but that doesn’t go without saying that visiting Lassen is a little trickier than it may initially seem, which is why I highly recommend reading the following section in detail before planning your trip.
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
I’ve been fortunate to experience Lassen Volcanic National Park multiples times in both the winter and during the best and most beautiful summer travel months, and I can speak from experience that visiting both Lassen Volcanic, as well as Crater Lake National Park to the north, are two of the trickiest National Parks to visit because of both snow and wildfires.
What I mean is that it’s not uncommon across the U.S. to wait out the early summer for the winter snowpack to melt off in places like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and even Yosemite. However, Lassen Volcanic National Park is exceptional, with the extreme amount of snow the park receives often keeping roads and trails closed well into June and sometimes July.
This makes visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park particularly difficult because the best snow-free months are typically mid-July through mid-October—right when wildfire season begins to pick up.
That said, the window to experience Lassen Volcanic National Park during the most beautiful summer months is very limited, and believe me, trying to hike and enjoy any place across the Mountain West is a lot less fun if the area is blanketed in smoke.
All that to say, the best time of year to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park is either mid-July - very early August, with the third week of July being the best time overall, or late fall—particularly late September - October, just before Lassen Peak Highway closes for the season. This isn’t to say that August and September can’t be beautiful, but it’s important to understand how different and unenjoyable an experience can be at Lassen Volcanic if the park is covered with thick wildfire smoke.
For all these reasons, I like to visit Lassen Volcanic when I know it’s as good of a guarantee as it gets in terms of conditions, which is why being picky with the third to fourth week of July is my overall pick—understanding that the National Park Service will close Lassen Peak Highway with the first major snowstorm of the year, which typically occurs at some point in late October - mid-November.
Hiking Checklist - Lassen Volcanic
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
That said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the park is home to Black Bears, bear spray is not allowed in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
20 Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but know that if Lassen Peak Highway hasn’t opened for the season, visiting the park can be very limiting, as the majority of the best things to see and do are located off the scenic byway.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Lassen Peak Trail
Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
Elevation Gain: 1,960 ft. / 597 m
The Lassen Peak Trail is a beautiful and, honestly, fairly moderate day hike that climbs to the summit of Lassen Peak at over 10,000 ft. (3,048 m) tall!
That said, climbing Lassen Peak is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park—that is, if you’re up for the 43 switchbacks that ascend nearly 2,000 ft. (610 m) from the trailhead off the uppermost portions of Lassen Peak Highway to the summit.
Considering this, some may find the near-constant ascent up Lassen Peak to be quite challenging. However, for those that are up for the climb, know that Lassen Peak is easily the best sunrise and sunset hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park, as the summit stands high above the surrounding landscape as the southernmost Cascade in the range!
Read My Separate Post: Lassen Peak Trail
2. Cinder Cone Trail (Painted Dunes)
Distance: 3.2 - 4.8 miles / 5.1 - 7.7 km
The Cinder Cone Trail in the Butte Lake Ranger District of Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the most fun and beautiful day hikes in the entire park!
I believe this because hikers not only have the opportunity to summit and hike to the bottom of the crater within the Cinder Cone, but also see the colorful natural lava beds known as the Painted Dunes!
If you’re interested in photographing the vibrant colors of the Painted Dunes, I could not recommend hiking the Cinder Cone Trail for sunrise more, as the soft morning light brings out the best of the colors across the landscape!
In any case, the Cinder Cone Trail is a great place to explore the beautiful volcanic landscape that spans across much of Lassen Volcanic, but this doesn’t go without saying that that climbing the final 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the top of the Cinder Cone is more challenging than you may initially think.
This is why I highly recommend checking out all the details in my separate post, as hikers interested in climbing to the top will need to ascend one of two very steep routes to reach the best of the panoramic views at the very top.
Read My Separate Post: Cinder Cone Trail
My Print - Cinder Cone Trail (Painted Dunes)
3. Ridge Lakes Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,000 ft. (305 m)
The Ridge Lakes Trail is a short but steep hike that leads hikers to the most beautiful alpine lake in all of Lassen Volcanic National Park!
I say this because the turquoise-blue waters, surrounded by towering peaks on all sides, make the secluded Ridge Lakes second to none, which is why they’re my favorite place to hike up to and hang out on a beautiful, sunny summer day in Lassen!
Read My Separate Post: Ridge Lakes Trail
4. Manzanita Lake Trail (Sunset)
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
Manzanita Lake is one of many beautiful alpine lakes within Lassen Volcanic National Park, but what truly makes it stand out from the rest is how Lassen Peak glows at sunset from a few different vantage points along the west side of the lake!
That said, there are several spots on the west side of Manzanita Lake to consider for watching the sunset, with one in particular being the best, in my opinion.
This is why I highly recommend checking out my separate post about the loop, so that you can enjoy the sunset from one of the most beautiful locations in Lassen Volcanic National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Manzanita Lake Trail
5. Manzanita Lake Campground & Cabins
On the east side of Manzanita Lake, there is a beautiful drive-up campground where visitors can reserve both campsites and cabins through the National Park Service on Recreation.gov.
Before planning a trip, it’s important to be aware that the cabins at Manzanita Lake are very competitive, as there are only 20 available to reserve, compared to more than 100 total campsites.
This is why I highly recommend booking your reservation as soon as you know your travel dates to Lassen Volcanic—especially for the best and most popular summer travel months (July - September).
Book Here: Manzanita Lake Campground / Manzanita Lake Cabins
6. Upper Kings Creek Meadow
Upper Kings Creek Meadow is a stunning alpine meadow on the southeast side of Lassen Peak, and it is my number one spot in Lassen Volcanic National Park to sit back and enjoy the sunrise!
By this, I mean there’s really nothing to it! Simply drive up, pull over, and sit in a camp chair with a cup of coffee, as first light hitting the peak and the meadow is truly something to see—especially early, before the park gets busy with visitors who often arrive by mid-morning during the busy summer travel season.
Google Maps Directions: Upper Kings Creek Meadow
7. Butte Lake (Kayak & Fish)
Butte Lake is a beautiful blue volcanic lake that owes its striking turquoise color to the Fantastic Lava Flows, which can be seen emerging from the Cinder Cone when viewing the lake through satellite imagery.
That said, Butte Lake is a local favorite in Lassen Volcanic, as this drive-up lake—and everything there is to do in the Butte Lake Ranger District—is far less busy than all the different sites off Lassen Peak Highway.
For all these reasons, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing on Butte Lake are all great activities to enjoy when visiting this lesser-explored part of the park!
Alternatively, the beautiful colors of Butte Lake can easily be enjoyed by hiking the adjacent Bathtub Lake Trail, as the loop climbs quickly over a short distance to several different vantage points above the water.
Google Maps Directions: Butte Lake
8. Brokeoff Mountain Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 2,580 ft. (786 m)
The Brokeoff Mountain Trail is one of the longer day hikes in Lassen Volcanic, but in my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated trails in the park!
I believe this because Brokeoff Mountain is located on the west side of Lassen Peak, which makes the panoramic viewpoint at the top the best day hike in the park to catch the sunset hitting the highest elevations at the summit!
That said, the Brokeoff Mountain Trail is roughly 3.7 miles (6.0 km) each way, which is why I recommend checking out my separate post linked below to help decide if sunset or simply a day hike is the best option for you and your group.
Read My Separate Post: Brokeoff Mountain Trail
9. Bumpass Hell Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 3.0 miles / 4.8 km
The Bumpass Hell Trail is an easy and, most notably, popular day hike off Lassen Peak Highway that leads to the largest active geothermal area in all of Lassen Volcanic National Park!
Along the hike, visitors will get to enjoy panoramic views of Little Hot Springs Valley to the west, and ultimately end at the beautiful, active volcanic thermal area filled with steaming vents, bubbling pools, and a number of colorful geothermal features!
Read My Separate Post: Bumpass Hell Trail
10. Sulphur Works
Sulphur Works is a very active roadside mud pot located directly alongside Lassen Peak Highway.
That said, stopping to see Sulphur Works does not take all that much time to enjoy, but the parking area for Sulphur Works is the same as the Ridge Lakes Trail, which is easily one of my top recommendations when visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park!
For this reason, I highly recommend visiting both at the same time, as the two can easily be enjoyed in just a few hours before moving on to other must-see sights off the beautiful, scenic byway.
Google Maps Directions: Sulphur Works
11. Terrace, Shadow, & Cliff Lakes Trail
Distance: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km
Elevation Change: ~700 ft. / 213 m
Behind only the Ridge Lakes Trail, the Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes Trail is my second-favorite day hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park for enjoying the beautiful alpine lakes that surround Lassen Peak!
However, what makes the Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes Trail better in some ways than the Ridge Lakes Trail is that each of the three lakes is uniquely better than another for different reasons!
This is why I highly recommend adding the trail to your Lassen Volcanic bucket list—especially if you’re looking to fish or swim while visiting the park!
Read My Separate Post: Terrace, Shadow, & Cliff Lakes Trail
12. Prospect Peak Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 2,230 ft. (680 m)
The Prospect Peak Trail is a true off-the-beaten-path adventure in Lassen Volcanic National Park, meaning it’s one of the least-trafficked trails there is across the entire park!
With that in mind, Prospect Peak is a great alternative to some of the more popular day hikes in Lassen—especially for those who don’t mind being the only ones on the trail.
To learn more, I highly recommend checking out my separate post, as most who hike the trail miss the true summit at the very end, since it’s not as obvious as simply following the most obvious path to the top.
Read My Separate Post: Prospect Peak Trail
13. Drive Lassen Peak Highway
Climbing to an elevation of around 8,511 ft. (2,594 m) at the road summit, Lassen Peak Highway is without a doubt the most scenic drive in Lassen Volcanic National Park, as it passes all the best things to see and do along the way!
I mention all this because, if you have time for nothing else in the park, the 34.0-mile (54.7 km) scenic byway is worth the visit alone, as places like Emerald Lake, Lake Helen, and even the Devastated Area Trail can all be visited in a relatively short amount of time without setting out on anything more involved.
Now, it must be said that all this advice goes out the window if you visit Lassen too early or too late in the season, as the highway closes annually based on how quickly plows can remove snow in the spring and when the first snowstorm arrives in the fall.
To understand this better, I highly recommend reading my thoughts at the very top of this article, where I go into detail about why visiting Lassen Volcanic at the best time of the year is so tricky.
Google Maps Directions: Lassen Peak Highway (Road Summit)
14. Devastated Area Interpretive Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
The Devastated Area Interpretive Trail is one of the best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park because it’s the best trail for visitors to see up close the remnants of Lassen Peak’s most recent volcanic eruption, which occurred from 1914 - 1917.
Here, visitors can see huge boulders that cascaded down the peak in a dramatic avalanche on May 19, 1915, and read about the full eruption period in detail on this easy, kid-friendly adventure.
Before visiting, I highly recommend checking out my separate post, as there’s a little-known area just off the trail that I highlight at the very end, where visitors can see photos from the most dramatic eruption events and read a detailed account from a man and his dog who lived through these events to tell their story!
Read My Separate Post: Devastated Area Interpretive Trail
15. Lake Helen
Situated right at the base of Lassen Peak, Lake Helen is arguably the most beautiful alpine lake off Lassen Peak Highway!
At this roadside paradise, visitors can swim, fish, paddle, or simply sit back and watch the sunset, as the lake on the west side of Lassen Peak is the perfect place to enjoy golden hour as it lights up the highest elevations on the summit!
Google Maps Directions: Lake Helen
16. Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake, like Lake Helen up the road, is a beautiful roadside alpine lake at the base of Lassen Peak that makes for a great place to stop, get your feet wet, and simply enjoy the breathtaking landscape!
However, unlike Lake Helen, which I think is best to visit later in the day and photograph in the late evening hours, I think Emerald Lake is best visited at or shortly after sunrise, when the winds are calm and the clear alpine water is the most still.
This is when the best photos can be taken, and it’s also when traffic in the park is minimal, making the experience at Emerald Lake more relaxing than it gets later throughout the day.
Google Maps Directions: Emerald Lake
17. Boiling Springs Lake Trail
Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5 km
Boiling Springs Lake is a beautiful, turquoise-blue volcanic lake in Warner Valley that I personally think is the most unique geothermal feature in all of Lassen Volcanic National Park!
I say this because, between Bumpass Hell, Sulphur Works, and Devil’s Kitchen, nothing comes close to how strikingly beautiful Boiling Springs Lake is when you walk up to it for the first time!
In addition, many who choose to hike to Boiling Springs Lake continue farther toward the Terminal Geyser. I mention this because, if you’re considering both trails, check out my Terminal Geyser Trail post to learn more, as it encompasses most of the hike to around Boiling Springs Lake on the way out to the geyser.
Read My Separate Post: Boiling Springs Lake Trail
18. Summit Lake Trail
Distance (Loop Only): 0.75 miles / 1.2 km
Distance (Full RT Trail): 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
The Summit Lake Trail is a short and easy loop trail around a beautiful alpine lake on the east side of Lassen Peak.
Because of this, the short 0.75-mile (1.2 km) loop is my favorite early-morning hike in Lassen Volcanic, as this is when the light across the lake and on Lassen Peak is the most beautiful!
To learn more about the full trail, including everything there is to know about the different trailheads for beginning the hike, I highly recommend checking out all the details in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Summit Lake Trail
19. Reflection Lake Trail
Distance: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
I listed the Reflection Lake Trail immediately after the Summit Lake Loop intentionally because the two are both great alternative day hikes to the Manzanita Lake Loop, where hikers can enjoy beautiful views of Lassen Peak across the water!
In fact, among the three, I would list the Manzanita Lake Trail first, the Reflection Lake Trail second, and the Summit Lake Trail last, based on how picturesque Lassen Peak is at each location.
However, camping at Summit Lake and having the beautiful sunrise views of Lassen Peak just steps away from your tent certainly speaks for itself, so it really is a toss-up between Summit and Reflection Lake!
All this to say, the Reflection Lake Loop Trail is a great, easy, kid-friendly adventure, and it can easily be combined with the Lily Pond Trail to make two hikes out of one!
Read My Separate Post: Reflection Lake Trail
20. Mill Creek Falls Trail
Distance: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
Mill Creek Falls is the tallest waterfall in Lassen Volcanic National Park, at almost double the height of the much more popular Kings Creek Falls!
That said, the Mill Creek Falls Trail sees only a fraction of the visitors that the Kings Creek Falls Trail receives, making the hike one of the best hidden gems in Lassen Volcanic!
Before visiting, I recommend checking out my separate article linked below, as the trailhead is quite inconspicuous, even though it’s located in a very popular part of the park, which is likely why so few visitors venture out on this little-known trail.
Read My Separate Post: Mill Creek Falls Trail
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, trails will almost always be covered in snow for most of June and often a few weeks into July.
For this reason, micro-spikes are a must on many trails, as conditions can be particularly hazardous if the snow is melting during the day and freezing again overnight.
Therefore, I recommend coming prepared, as many hikers miss out on trails they could have done for this reason alone. I personally use the Yaktrax below.
10 Best Things to Do Near Lassen Volcanic National Park
1. Crater Lake National Park
In this part of the country, both Lassen Volcanic National Park and Crater Lake National Park are often paired together into one roadtrip.
In fact, it’s only a 4-hour drive from the Manzanita Lake entrance on the north side of Lassen Volcanic to the Steel Visitor Center near the south entrance of Crater Lake.
This is why, if you enjoyed reading everything I’ve written about Lassen Volcanic, I recommend checking out my separate article about Crater Lake National Park, where I share the same inside information about everything there is to see and do on all sides of the park.
Read My Separate Post: Crater Lake National Park
2. Burney Falls
Distance: 1.1 miles / 1.8 km
Between Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake National Park is a unique waterfall and California State Park that, in my mind, can only be compared with the waterfalls at the end of the Havasupai Trail in Arizona.
Before visiting, know that Burney Falls is a very popular summer destination, which is why I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning. This way, you can enjoy the best of Burney Falls without the crowds—not to mention, the early morning light, as shown below, is the best time to take beautiful photos at the waterfall!
Read My Separate Post: Burney Falls Loop Trail
3. Chester & Lake Almanor
The small town of Chester, California, along the beautiful shores of Lake Almanor, is a quintessential lake community complete with places to stay, a hardware store and bait shop, and great small-town ice cream shops, bakeries, and coffee shops!
Think of the kind of place you picture when you imagine summer baseball and fishing, mixed with a small-town feel that makes you want to stay more than just one night!
All that to say, Chester is the best gateway town to Warner Valley on the southeast side of Lassen Volcanic National Park, offering easy access to amazing adventures like the Devil’s Kitchen Trail, the second-largest hydrothermal area in Lassen, behind only Bumpass Hell.
Google Maps Directions: Chester, California (Lake Almanor)
4. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park may seem a bit out of the way from Lassen Volcanic National Park, but if you’re flying to Sacramento to visit Lassen, then Yosemite isn’t as out of the way as it may initially seem.
In fact, from the Sacramento Airport, Yosemite Village is only 3 hours and 40 minutes away.
To learn more, I’ve written an entirely separate post about Yosemite, similar to my detailed article about Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake.
Read My Separate Post: Yosemite National Park
5. Nello’s Place
I’m generally not one to recommend Italian food, because I think it’s one of those things we’d all say we can make at home. However, Nello’s Place in Redding is Italian that’s worth going out of your way for!
That said, Nello’s Place is certainly on the nicer side of dining options outside of Lassen, but if you’re looking for a nice night out after a long day in the park, I could not recommend it more!
Yelp: Nello’s Place
6. Redwood National & State Parks
The California Redwoods are easily the next best place to add to your list between Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake, and just like this article, I’ve also written a detailed post about the best things to do in the Redwoods, including both Redwood National Park and the various California State Parks that fall under the management of the National Park Service.
Read My Separate Post: Redwood National & State Parks
My Print - Redwood National & State Parks
7. Champa Garden Restaurant
Champa Garden Restaurant in Redding is my go-to Thai restaurant when I’m looking to eat something a little different from traditional American food.
I also think it’s worth noting that their menu has a lot to offer, which is sure to help everyone in your group find something they’ll enjoy!
Yelp: Champa Garden Restaurant
8. Drive the Oregon Coast
From stunning day hikes and endless beautiful beaches, the rugged Oregon Coast is truly a world-renowned roadtrip destination!
This is why I think it’s worth mentioning that combining a trip to Lassen Volcanic with a multi-day trip up or down the Oregon Coast is more than practical if you’re looking to experience some of the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer!
That said, I used to live on the Oregon Coast, and in my separate post, I talk about many amazing adventures from my own experiences, including hidden gems you may never have heard of otherwise!
Read My Separate Post: Best Things to Do on the Oregon Coast
9. Lake Tahoe
Incline Village, on the north side of Lake Tahoe, is only a 3-hour, 15-minute drive from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center near the south entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park!
I mention this because Lake Tahoe, along with all the other California and Oregon destinations on this list, can easily be added to your list of destinations, especially if your trip is starting from Sacramento or Reno!
Google Maps Directions: Lake Tahoe
10. Mt. Whitney (Highest Peak in California)
There’s nothing quite like climbing to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest summit in the Lower 48 states!
That said, the most common route to the summit of Mt. Whitney is through Whitney Portal in the eastern Sierra, out of Lone Pine, which you can learn more about in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Mt. Whitney Trail (Lone Pine)
5 Things to Know Before Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
1. There is some cell phone service throughout Lassen Volcanic.
I use the word 'some' sparingly because cell phone service in Lassen is certainly not the same as it is in Yosemite Valley. However, the general rule of thumb in Lassen is: the higher you are, the better the service!
Places like Warner Valley and Butte Lake don’t have very good service, if any at all, because they are much lower than everything off Lassen Peak Highway.
So, just think: if you have a view, you probably have at least some cell service in Lassen Volcanic!
2. The sun is very strong in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
I mention this time and time again throughout my individual trail articles, but Lassen Volcanic National Park is a very high-elevation park.
Even what some would consider lower-elevation areas, like Butte Lake and Warner Valley, are still significantly higher than the lowest elevations in Yosemite Valley, for comparison.
This makes burning in an already very sunny National Park that much easier, which is why I could not recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt more—especially in the worst burn areas from the 2021 Dixie Fire, like the Terminal Geyser Trail.
3. The 2021 Dixie Fire left impacts that will take centuries to fully recover.
Something that most people don’t consider is that many of the trees across the Mountain West, such as Hemlock, Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir, and even Cedars, are hundreds of years old in a mature forest.
This means that a place like Lassen Volcanic National Park will never look the same in our lifetimes, though many trees will pop up and grow several feet tall in the coming decades.
It is sad to understand just how widespread the 2021 Dixie Fire was, and it’s something to prepare for when setting out on hikes in Warner Valley or even others off Lassen Peak Highway, like the Cold Boiling Lake–Crumbaugh Lake Trail, as they will be hotter and more exposed than they were prior.
4. Redding is a good-sized interstate town that will have everything you need.
In Crater Lake National Park, I talk about the importance of picking up food if you plan to catch sunset somewhere like Mt. Scott or Garfield Peak, because everything will be closed after hiking down and driving out.
However, Redding is a much larger town compared to both Klamath Falls and White City on either side of Crater Lake.
This means that after catching sunset somewhere like Manzanita Lake and doing the one-hour drive back to Redding, places will still be open, or at least you’ll have a few options, because Redding sees more traffic due to the I-5.
All this to say, Redding is a great place to stay, it has everything one could need for a short stay, and it’s not a terrible drive to get to any part of Lassen, even Warner Valley near Chester, though I wouldn’t overlook a few nights in Chester as previously mentioned.
5. Apart from campgrounds, there are no advanced reservations required to visit Lassen.
This is what really sets Lassen Volcanic National Park apart from other parks like Glacier or even hikes like the Angels Landing Trail in Zion, as advanced reservations are not required to visit any part of the park!
Even the busiest trails, like Lassen Peak and the Bumpass Hell Trail, can be enjoyed by simply showing up, as it should be!
However, overcrowding in National Parks and on certain trails has become a serious issue in recent years, but it feels nice to say that Lassen Volcanic has managed to avoid these changes happening elsewhere!
